New Year, New You: A Holistic Approach to Health Resolutions

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By Genevieve Cunningham

A new year brings a chance for self-reflection. Did I do enough? Did I miss any opportunities? Did I make this year count? This glance backward at our accomplishments and shortcomings is a natural response to the passing of time -- and truly, it’s a practice we need in our lives. It’s a chance to regroup. To reset. To try again.

But should we start the year with an actual resolution? The statistics on resolutions aren’t promising. About a quarter of people stop their resolutions before the end of the first week, and by the end of January, almost half have given up. Maybe instead of a resolution, we should be looking to make life changes. Real lasting changes that we can put our heart and soul into at any time of year, not just when the clock strikes midnight.

If this idea speaks to you, why not start with one of the most important aspects of life -- your health? But not just trendy diets and quick fixes. Why not a holistic approach --. whole body, natural, lasting health. New year, new health plan, brand new you.

The Typical Approach

Making health the center of a resolution certainly isn’t a new or novel idea to the 40 percent of the population that makes resolutions. Almost half of those -- 48 percent, to be exact – make better health and fitness their top priority in a new year. In 2021, the typical health-related resolutions looked like this:

• Exercise - The top resolution related to health and fitness was a simple one: exercise more.
• Eat healthier - Coming in second was the common resolve of eating a healthier diet.
• Lose weight - Surprisingly, losing weight wasn’t the top resolution, but it wasn’t far behind the leader, coming in third on the list.
• To lower stress - Some people chose to focus on stress, most specifically lowering stress at work, in the new year.
• Quit smoking - Although this was once a top contender for resolutions, the overall reduction in smoking means this is a little further down the list.

There were certainly other resolutions and goals related to health. In fact there was quite a wide range, but for the most part, they revolved around these main ideas. But maybe the question shouldn’t really be the topic of the resolutions, but rather the reasons why they typically fail, plus some ideas for how to be successful.

Why Resolutions Fail

Resolutions seem like a good idea, but they usually don’t work out the way we intend. Why? Most of the time, it boils down to just a few reasons.

• The goals are not narrow enough - Oftentimes, our goals are just too broad. We say “I want to exercise more” instead of “I’m going to exercise for 30 minutes three times per week.” The more specific the goal, the easier it is to follow through.
• The time frame is too big - When we set resolutions, we’re subconsciously agreeing to a year’s worth of work. The mind doesn’t like that. If we fail, we feel like we have to wait until next New Year to start again.
• We set resolutions for the wrong reason - The best changes we make are because we need it and we’re ready for it. Too many people set resolutions because it’s tradition. If this is your reasoning behind setting a goal, you’re more likely to fail.
• We don’t have help - Making changes is hard. If we don’t have support, it’s even harder. President Barack Obama famously quit smoking, a feat he credits to his wife for her push in the right direction and her ongoing support.

The truth is that if we want resolutions to be successful, we have to set the right kind of goals at the right time and with the right intentions. Once you understand the power behind goals with the right intention, you’ll never go back.

The Best Year-Round Resolution and Tips for Success

If you want to make a health-related New Year’s Resolution, the best approach is a slow and natural one. The desire for more exercise is good. The desire to eat healthier is good. But maybe a desire to improve your health overall is a better, more attainable approach. Why? Because there are real, actionable steps that can be taken to get you there.

Expand Your Health Care Team

If you’re not seeing your general practitioner regularly, you should start. Regular check-ups are a great way to stay on top of your health, and traditional medical advice can certainly be advantageous. But maybe it’s time to add some holistic doctors to the mix. There are multiple types of holistic healthcare professionals to choose from and add to your healthcare team.

• A chiropractor may be able to offer a treatment plan that encourages self-healing and long-term wellness. Chiropractic adjustments are famously noninvasive and promote just the holistic wellness we’re looking for.
• A naturopathic doctor may be able to guide you toward herbal medicine and other natural remedies.
• A personal trainer may be able to guide you toward an exercise routine that truly meets your needs.
• A nutritionist may be able to point you toward the right foods to fuel your body.

The stronger your team of help and support, the higher your chance of long-term success.

Start Now (or Whenever)

You don’t have to wait until the New Year to set resolutions and goals. You can start today. Or if it suits you better, you can start in March or June or next October. The key is to start when it feels right for you. When it feels like you can stick with it and when you’re ready to make lasting changes in your life. If you’re only doing it because it’s the New Year's “thing to do,” consider waiting until you feel compelled of your own accord. Then again, sometimes the best way to accomplish a task is to just start whether you’re ready or not: do something. But you will be ahead of the ball game if your head is in the right place.

Focus on Natural Wellness

So many resolutions focus on the way our bodies look. We want to lose weight or build muscle because we want to look good in our clothing. But the best resolutions focus on wellness. They focus on feeling your best both physically and mentally. Because of the expansiveness of this goal, this leaves the door open for small, attainable tasks that we can put on our schedules. You could vow to start meditating for five minutes per day, taking a daily 20-minute walk in nature, starting yoga once per week, or beginning a journaling habit.

If we want true wellness, this also forces us to look at more natural approaches. Taking pain medication for the rest of your life probably doesn’t feel like wellness. Extreme diets probably don’t feel like wellness. But yoga or chiropractic care to manage pain? Learning a brand new way of eating for weight management? These are choices that lead to a true lifestyle of wellness. It’s easy to stop at The Joint Chiropractic while running errands or on a lunch break to get an adjustment that keeps your body in optimal function, for example.

Stick to the Basics

The basics are the founding blocks of life and good health. Do you have physical symptoms that need attention? Focus on those first. Are you playing catch-up in your health? Start by seeing a doctor for a thorough check-up. Are you building routines? Start with physical activity and more vegetables in your diet.

Resolutions don’t have to be fancy. The basics are the best places to start and will help you build the best health on a solid foundation.

If you’re ready for it, the New Year is a great time to set resolutions and goals about your health. For the best success, do it wisely. Choose holistic treatment whenever possible, treatment that heals your body from the inside and works its way out. Choose lifestyle changes and self-love over quick fixes and diet trends and long-term medication. Choose you this year, and your health and life may transform like never before.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.